Find what you need.
Browse the six sections or search this page for a specific driver tool, checklist or practical resource.
Practical tools for life behind the wheel.
Work-time guidance, shift tools, incident templates, vehicle checks and practical references designed around the everyday needs of New Zealand bus drivers.
Built for practical use.
Clear information, useful tools and the source behind the guidance.
Know the time that counts.
Driving time is only part of the picture. Work-related duties, qualifying rest, split shifts and other paid work can all matter when understanding a driver’s work time.
Four numbers worth knowing.
Understand your duty more clearly.
These tools explain the main concepts without turning complicated situations into an unreliable automatic “legal / illegal” answer.
Duty Time
Record sign-on, work periods, breaks, split periods, sign-off and other employment to understand how your duty is structured.
Core ToolBreak & Rest
Separate ordinary workplace breaks from qualifying Land Transport rest and identify where the two systems may need to be considered separately.
ConfirmedSplit Shift
Look at work time, the length of the split and continuous rest together — not simply the total span between sign-on and sign-off.
QualifiedLayover & Standby
A parked bus does not automatically mean the driver is resting. Duties and responsibilities during the period can affect how the time should be understood.
Check the circumstancesRecord the facts while they are still fresh.
After an incident, clear notes can matter. Record what happened, preserve useful evidence and keep the basic details together before they become harder to reconstruct.
Start with the basics.
Whether the incident involves a passenger, a crash, a near miss, a vehicle problem or an unsafe situation, begin by recording objective details rather than relying on memory later.
Incident record — useful details
Incident Report
A structured record for passenger aggression, assault, threats, crashes, near misses, vehicle defects and other significant events.
Practical ToolEvidence Checklist
Keep track of witnesses, photos, CCTV, vehicle details, Control notifications and reference numbers connected with an incident.
Practical ToolCCTV Preservation
If relevant footage may be important, identify it and request preservation promptly. Retention periods can differ between organisations.
Retention variesWitness Notes
Record who saw the event, where they were and any useful contact or identifying information available at the time.
Practical ToolThere is no single nationwide retention period that applies to every New Zealand bus CCTV system. Request preservation as soon as practicable when footage may be important.
A safer shift starts before the first trip.
A practical walk-around can help identify obvious vehicle problems before service begins. Use official guidance together with the procedures required for the bus you actually drive.
Look. Check. Report.
The aim is simple: identify visible or known problems, understand what needs attention and report defects through the correct process before they become a bigger safety issue.
Around the bus
- Tyres and wheels
- Lights and visible damage
- Mirrors and windows
- Doors and access points
- Obvious leaks or hazards
Inside the bus
- Driver visibility
- Dashboard warnings
- Emergency exits
- Interior hazards
- Emergency equipment
Passenger access
- Entry and exit areas
- Ramp or accessibility equipment
- Wheelchair area where fitted
- Handrails and passenger area
- School-bus equipment where applicable
Bus-specific checks
- Brake-system procedure
- Door and interlock checks
- Ramp / kneeling procedure
- EV or vehicle warning systems
- Other operator-required checks
Whether a vehicle can continue in service, move without passengers or requires engineering attention depends on the actual defect, applicable vehicle requirements and authorised operator or manufacturer procedures.
NZBusDriver uses official pre-trip guidance as the foundation for this checklist. Specific brake, door, ramp, EV and fault procedures may differ between vehicles and operators.
Official guidance + operator procedureWhen something happens, keep the first steps clear.
Emergencies are not the time for complicated instructions. These quick references focus on immediate safety, communication and the information worth preserving afterwards.
Protect people, stop in a safe place where possible and use emergency services when the situation requires them.
Crash
- Stop safely
- Check immediate safety
- Protect passengers
- Emergency services where required
- Notify Control / operator
- Preserve useful evidence
Medical Event
- Stop safely
- Assess immediate danger
- Call 111 where appropriate
- Assist within your training
- Use available first-aid resources
- Record the incident
Assault / Violence
- Prioritise immediate safety
- Stop safely where possible
- Contact Control
- Call Police / 111 when necessary
- Avoid unnecessary confrontation
- Preserve evidence
Fire / Smoke
- Stop safely
- Move passengers away from danger
- Call 111 for an emergency
- Identify an EV where relevant
- Avoid high-voltage components
- Follow emergency instructions
Breakdown
- Secure the vehicle
- Consider passenger safety
- Notify Control
- Use appropriate warnings
- Follow engineering procedure
- Record relevant defects
EV isolation, shutdown systems, door release, fire equipment and fault procedures may vary by vehicle and operator. Use the procedure for the bus you actually drive.
Keep important driver credentials on your radar.
Licences, endorsements, medical requirements and training do not all follow the same timetable. A simple personal record can help you see what needs attention before it becomes urgent.
Credentials worth tracking.
Driver Licence
Record the licence expiry date and the classes relevant to the vehicles you drive.
P Endorsement
Keep the endorsement expiry date visible and allow time for any renewal requirements.
Medical
Track relevant medical requirements and supporting documentation when they apply to your licence or endorsement.
First Aid
Record certificate details where first-aid training is required or maintained for your role.
Operator Training
Keep a record of relevant induction, refresher and role-specific training completed with your operator.
Vehicle Training
Record familiarisation or training for EVs, double-deckers, articulated buses or other specialist vehicles where relevant.
Source first. Context second. Drivers decide.
Practical information should make the source clearer, not hide it. NZBusDriver separates official requirements, guidance and operator-specific procedures wherever that distinction matters.